Oregon-USC: Pac-10 showdown poses big recruiting opportunity, too

EUGENE - When James Scales set out to choose a college, he knew he wanted a few things.

Scales, a defensive back from Greensboro, N.C., had the obvious pro/con list: geography, weather, record, tradition, facilities, majors available, etc. But because he has aspirations of playing professionally someday, Scales weighed the future while researching the past. Which school, he wondered, can help me develop into an NFL player?

To find the answer Scales hopped online and pulled up the 2009 NFL Draft list. Two names stuck out: Patrick Chung, a second round pick of the New England Patriots, and Jairus Byrd, a second round pick of the Buffalo Bills, who both played at Oregon.

"I don't know what it is," said Scales, who gave a verbal commitment to Oregon and will not be among the many still-deliberating recruits coming to Eugene for the Oregon-USC game Saturday, "but he's getting people to the next level."

“He” would be Oregon secondary coach John Neal, who has helped nurture some of the better defensive players to come out of UFO in recent years. On Saturday, Neal and the Ducks will host two important guests: The No. 4 USC Trojans, and some of the best defensive high school players in the nation.

Besides coaching Chung and Byrd to the NFL, Neal has also molded Walter Thurmond III, a senior cornerback who has been lost for the season, into a professional-caliber player.

"It felt good to be recruited by Oregon knowing that in the past few years they've had DBs go into the NFL," said Terrance Mitchell, another player, from Sacramento, who has verbally committed to the Ducks. "Coach (Neal) told me I had a good chance, if I keep working to have that same opportunity."

Neil brushes off the praise he's received for turning out NFL-caliber athletes.

"It's not the guys who go to the NFL that make you a great coach, it's the guys who don't go to the NFL that make you a great coach," he said. "I don't toot my own horn. I believe the kids do that."

Should Neal and Oregon get commitments from some of the other defensive backs they're pursuing, Mitchell will have stiff competition.

The most sought-after defensive back prospect for the Ducks is Keenan Allen, a teammate of Scales' in North Carolina who is rated by Rivals.com as the No. 1 safety in the nation. Also in the mix are Dior Mathis (No. 11 CB, from Detroit, Mich.), Sean Parker (No. 20 S, from Harbor City, Calif.), Erick Dargan (No. 21 S, from Pittsburgh, Calif.), Troy Hill (No. 30 CB, from Ventura, Calif.) and Toney Hurd, Jr. (No. 44 CB from Missouri City, Texas). Not bad for a school usually known for its high-flying offense.

Neal says that in the past few years, as Oregon has risen to national prominence, the Ducks have been able to pursue more recruits who might have been considered long shots before.

"I think, more than anything, it's just trying, not being afraid to go some distance and see if we can generate interest," Neal said. "We feel like we have a pretty good product to sell and we're not afraid to go across the country and at least try."

Going all across the nation to gather the best talent is something Oregon's next opponent is well versed in. USC frequently signs some of the top recruits in the country, though Oregon coach Chip Kelly isn't so sure that star ratings mean anything.

"The star system is the craziest thing in football," he said. "The people who rate the star system absolutely have no idea. It's like me going to rate banks. 'You know what? They were nice, the teller was nice to me, so it's a five-star bank.'

"We don't ever pay attention to the star system. 'Pat Chung's a two-star, Max Unger's a two star.' All I know is those guys got drafted really high in the NFL draft. I see five-stars that never play and I see two-stars that are great players."

But even if Kelly and his staff don't pay attention to star ratings, others do. Signing high-profile athletes generates more attention for the school, which could attract future recruits.

"I think Oregon will get five-star guys there (on visits) with all the glitz and glamour," Scales said. "Jerseys and that type of stuff draws people in, but they sign because of the coaches."

Added Mitchell, ranked 41st at his position: "A lot of people think Oregon's all about the stuff they have, but they're winning, too, and that's going to bring a lot of people in."

And lately, Oregon's not just winning with that high-powered offense -- much of the Ducks' recent success can be attributed to their defense, which Mitchell has noticed.

"I love it, I love it!" Mitchell said. "Especially after the Boise State game people were asking me, 'T, what's up with your school?' And now they're winning and they cracked that top 10. I'm feeling good."

Scales, who is ranked 45th at his position and said Oregon is "definitely" going to beat the Trojans on Saturday, also thinks Oregon's recent play is going to attract more recruits, especially those of the four- and five-star variety.

"Kids coming from out of state on their official visits are starting to see what Oregon is all about," he said. "They are as good as USC. They're competing with BCS teams on a regular basis."